opensource Software conflict - help needed

Looking for volunteers to join your project? Need help with a script but can't afford to pay? Want to offer your services as a volunteer to build up your portfolio? This is the place for you...

Moderator: General Moderators

Post Reply
phpinfinity
Forum Newbie
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2006 8:48 pm

opensource Software conflict - help needed

Post by phpinfinity »

Greetings all,
I’m posting here asking for all of PHP coders help in a very delicate matter.

For the last 2 months, I’ve been developing an opensource CMS system called PHP iNFiNiTY,
(yes another one !, the world just can't have too many :P )
Before that I was voluntarily helping another opensource software called PHP izabi,
this voluntary work involved providing support to new users and occasionally writing a few mods, because of my involvement the founders or Izabi decided to make me an admin.

PHPizabi was never open to joined development, there was only one developer and he did everything himself, we only helped with providing feed back and bug reports...

Up until lately PHPizabi source was 5% encrypted with ioncube, this included : index.php and several files in the "includes" folder.

I didn't announce my project (PHP iNFiNiTY) yet and I didn't post about it anywhere yet cuz it's still in beta and needs a lot more work....

The izabi founders discovered my software and immediately accused me of stealing Izabi source code !!! Of course to do that I’m also accused of cracking ioncube !!!!

I never used anything from Izabi source, and I never had access to it, all the packages from izabi were distributed with that 5% encrypted content which nobody could ever access ...

I think of the people on izabi as friends and I continually try to end the silly “war” that the founders have started, though no matter how hard I tried, they keep insulting and attacking me ruthlessly ...

Every time I’d mention bringing in a 3rd party coder and have him decide if anything was stolen or ever cloned they just ignored the statement and never responded.

So I decided to take matters into my own hands to try and resolve the issue. I am searching for support from you guys, if you have free time and think you can do a comparison of both softwares, please do and post your findings here

My only concern is to make it clear that PHP iNFiNiTY is a self built software and to stop the wrongful accusations, I wish not to be in any kind of “war” and/or conflict with any programmers.

you can contact me at support@php-infinity.com
and you can contact the izabi coder at support@phpizabi.com

my software is available for free at :
http://www.php-infinity.com

their software is available for free at :
http://www.phpizabi.net

Please note that unlike PHP izabi, PHP iNFiNiTY is still under heavy development and wasn't even meant to be released to the public at this point ...

Thank you all for you cooperation.

iNFiNiTE
User avatar
feyd
Neighborhood Spidermoddy
Posts: 31559
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 3:24 pm
Location: Bothell, Washington, USA

Post by feyd »

The license agreements alone will make me stop from even looking at it. They aren't free software. They may be "open source" but without them being actually compliant with free software, I just won't take the time to even compare beyond that. Sorry.
phpinfinity
Forum Newbie
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2006 8:48 pm

what do you mean ?

Post by phpinfinity »

feyd wrote:The license agreements alone will make me stop from even looking at it. They aren't free software. They may be "open source" but without them being actually compliant with free software, I just won't take the time to even compare beyond that. Sorry.
erm, ... both are free and both are opensource, both licence agreements (though may not be standard GNU General Public License) clearley states that they are free and opensource, only some restrictions apply, but nothing that would stop you from comparing !?
User avatar
feyd
Neighborhood Spidermoddy
Posts: 31559
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 3:24 pm
Location: Bothell, Washington, USA

Post by feyd »

Those restrictions are exactly why I won't compare them. I would have gladly done a comparison if they were free software. This is a philosophical position for me, so you're not going to argue me down into doing it. Maybe someone else here will, but I won't consider putting my name or seal them until such time that they are free software. Yes, that means GPL compatible.
User avatar
feyd
Neighborhood Spidermoddy
Posts: 31559
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 3:24 pm
Location: Bothell, Washington, USA

Post by feyd »

Don't get me wrong, we support open source here, but I've chosen personally to support free software only.

For people's eludication, and lessen the need to download the packages, the licenses I am having a problem with are to follow.

PHP iNFiNiTY

Code: Select all

PHP iNFiNiTY Open Software License
Version 1.0
January 31 2006
Copyright (C) 2006 iNFiNiTY Medias
http://www.infinity-medias.com
All rights reserved.

Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
are met:

1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
   notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
  
2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
   notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
   the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
   distribution.
  
3. The name "PHP iNFiNiTY" and version charechters "X,P,S, etc ..."
   must not be used to endorse or promote products derived from this
   software without prior written permission. 
   For written permission, please contact contact@php-infinity.com
   This does not apply to 3rd party add-on libraries or tools
   that work in conjunction with PHP iNFiNiTY. In such a case the
   name may be used to indicate that the product supports PHP iNFiNiTY.
  
4. iNFiNiTY Medias may publish revised and/or new versions of the
   license from time to time. Each version will be given a
   distinguishing version number.

   Once covered code has been published under a particular version
   of the license, you may always continue to use it under the terms
   of that version. You may also choose to use such covered code under
   the terms of any subsequent version of the license published by
   iNFiNiTY Medias. No one other than iNFiNiTY Medias has the right to
   modify the terms applicable to covered code created under this
   License.
  
5. Redistribution of any form whatsoever must retain the following
   acknowledgment:

   "This product includes software developed by iNFiNiTY Medias
   (http://www.infinity-medias.com/)."
  
6. Products derived from this software may not be called "PHP iNFiNiTY",
   nor may "PHP iNFiNiTY" appear in their name, without prior written
   permission of iNFiNiTY Medias.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY
AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL
iNFiNiTY Medias OR ITS CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING,
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF
USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON
ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF
THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

iNFiNiTY Medias can be contacted via Email at support@infinity-medias.com

For more information on iNFiNiTY Medias, please see
<http://www.infinity-medias.com/>.

For more information on PHP iNFiNiTY, please see
<http://www.php-infinity.com/>.
PHPizabi

Code: Select all

License Agreement  	 
Last Updated: Nov. 22, 2005

Please read the terms and conditions of this license agreement (the "License") before installing the
computer software (the "Software"). By installing and using the Software you accept and agree to the 
terms of this License. This License constitutes the entire agreement concerning the Software between 
you and PHPizabi and it supersedes any prior proposal or representation. If you do not agree with 
these terms and conditions, promptly de-install the Software. The term "Software" includes, and these 
terms and conditions also apply to, any updates, modifications and upgrades to the Software that you 
may receive from time to time.
 
1. License Grant.
This License permits you, as recipient of the Software, to use one copy of the Software solely for 
your use. You agree that you will not sublicense, assign, transfer, distribute, pledge, lease, rent 
or share your rights under this License except with prior written permission from PHPizabi. You agree 
that you will not modify for resell or free distribution, disassemble, decompile, reverse engineer 
the source code of the Software.
 
2. Running on PHPizabi Disclaimer
The "Running on PHPizabi" line located on the bottom right corner of interface, shall not be changed, 
altered, manipulated in any manner or to indicate that the site is running on any core software other 
than PHPizabi. You are however allowed to remove the line in its entirety. Stating that you are running 
on a core software other than PHPizabi is a violation of this license agreement and shall be terminated 
immediately.
 
3. PHPizabi Rights.
You acknowledge and agree that the Software and Documentation (the "Licensed Products") are proprietary 
products of PHPizabi under international copyright law and disclosed to you PHPizabi in confidence. 
You shall take all reasonable steps to safeguard the Licensed Products. PHPizabi owns and retains all 
copyright, trademark, trade secret and other proprietary rights in and to the Licensed Products. This 
License conveys to you only a non-exclusive and limited right of use, revocable in accordance with the 
terms and conditions of this License.
 
4. No Warranty
BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT 
PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR 
OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE PROGRAM "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, 
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR 
PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE 
PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION
 
5. Limitations of Liability.
In no event shall PHPizabi be liable for any damages to you or any other party whether arising out of 
contract or from tort including loss of data, profits or business or other special, incidental, exemplary 
or consequential damages, even if PHPizabi has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damages. 
PHPizabi cumulative liability shall not exceed the license fee paid, if any, for use of this Software 
and Documentation. This section shall survive termination of this License.
 
6. Termination.
This agreement is in effect until terminated. You may terminate the agreement at any time by destroying 
all copies of the Software and Documentation and erasing any copies on storage media. The agreement also 
terminates if you fail to comply with any terms and conditions of this agreement. In such event, you 
agree to destroy and erase all copies of the Software and Documentation, and PHPizabi will be entitled 
to all remedies in accordance with applicable law.
 
7. General.
This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the United States of America.
 
8. Contact.
admin@phpizabi.com
phpinfinity
Forum Newbie
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2006 8:48 pm

i understand

Post by phpinfinity »

I understand what you are saying... and it's ok, thanks for your response anyways.
I still hope someone would step up and bring the facts about the matter to light so that everyone can see.
User avatar
Weirdan
Moderator
Posts: 5978
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2003 6:13 pm
Location: Odessa, Ukraine

Post by Weirdan »

Feyd, did you mean 'free software' as it's defined by FSF?
User avatar
feyd
Neighborhood Spidermoddy
Posts: 31559
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 3:24 pm
Location: Bothell, Washington, USA

Post by feyd »

yes. GPL compatible licenses.
phpinfinity
Forum Newbie
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2006 8:48 pm

UPDATE

Post by phpinfinity »

Greetings all,
thank you for you responses to my last year's post, or at least for spending a few moments reading it ...
time has passed and things have changed, PHP iNFiNiTY has come a looooong way since those days...

PHP iNFiNiTY is now a fully mature product (currently in Beta stage),
we have a large community backend support, a lot of contributers and pleanty of fun :)

since the events mentioned in my original post took place, the co-founder of PHP Izabi (not the coder guy) has left Izabi and joined forces with me. and so have a larg number of Izabi users ...
I say this not to brag but to show how popular and serious this project have become.

our star product (code named: Zeta) is an online community builder unlike any other.

you can find more information @ http://php-infinity.com

iNFiNiTE.
JeffBell
Forum Newbie
Posts: 15
Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2007 8:17 am

Post by JeffBell »

And it now appears to be GPL licensed, although there's no real information for what PHP Infinity actually does.
Post Reply